It Takes a Village

In the middle of one of Detroit's most blighted and abandoned neighborhoods, Shamayim 'Shu' Harris and her team of engineers, futurists, artists, urban farmers, and their nationwide allies are reimagining public and private space. Step into the village and join us...

Hero helps transform Highland Park

Cocoon 9 House gifted by Ellen DeGeneres Delivered to Mama Shu

Mama Shu receives Cocoon 9 prefab house for the Avalon Village from Ellen DeGeneres… [read more]

Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Ryan Garza, The Detroit Free Press

Highland Park ‘eco village’ brings basics back to Avalon Street

Shamayim Harris, better known as Mama Shu, sits on her porch on the corner of Avalon Village, a sustainable eco-friendly community that she is building in Highland Park… [read more]

Monday, July 25, 2016. Virginia Lozano, The Detroit News

ByMeaghan St Pierre,WDIV Local 4 News,Aug 1, 2017

Highland Park woman gives children gift of music in her ongoing project to turn community around

Shu Harris is motivated to turning her community around, especially for the children. She is the CEO of Avalon Village in Highland Park, a nonprofit organization that is buying up lots and transforming them into a park, garden, and homework house. This summer, Harris provided a four-week music camp for children for free. The Sun Boy Record Music Camp taught children how to play different instruments, how to be a DJ, dance and much more. The camp ended with a recital day for parents to see what the children had been doing. Read more here.

Avalon Village grows every day because of the generous support we receive from people all over the world.

We Love Our Backers!

“It takes a village” is not just a catchy slogan! The Avalon Village’s Kickstarter campaign successfully raised $243,690 from 1,511 backers in 30 days. Donations came from supporters across America (see the interactive map below) and from people in 140 countries, speaking hundreds of different languages. Our story of renewal and revitalization reached the UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, China, India, Ireland, New Zealand and the list goes on. We are beyond grateful for the global love and support.

“People across the country and the world are inspired by The Avalon Village,” says Hayley Rosenblum, a Kickstarter strategist. “Each contribution, whether small or large, is a signifier of support for the village, a vote of confidence for the project, and a signal that people want to know more about its progress.”

Our Kickstarter campaign was one of the most-funded and most-backed civic design projects in history. We could not have done it without YOU.

“The economic crisis of the Detroit metropolitan area is well-known,” says Rosenblum. “But, it’s not often that we see a community band together to work through the challenges and struggles and support each other in meaningful and substantial ways. Lead by Shu, who is a force of nature in the positivity, dedication and vision she brings to Avalon Village, she is showing that despite the hardships and challenges, residents are working together to build something bigger than themselves.”

This is a partial* map of donations made to the Avalon Village Kickstarter campaign:

*670 of the 1511 backers’ zip codes are visible on this map. (Personal addresses have been removed to protect donors’ privacy.)